MINI India will introduce the all-new Clubman here on the 15th of December.
The new Clubman marks the arrival of the third model line from the iconic BMW-owned British brand. Unlike the Cooper or the Cooper Convertible, the Clubman model family is expected to pack the new generation of the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.
The power transmission system of the new MINI Clubman ALL4 consists of a power take-off bevel gear on the front axle differential, a dual-section propeller shaft and a rear-axle differential with an electro-hydraulically controlled hang-on clutch. Its control system is interconnected with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).
Powering the Clubman are a choice of petrol and diesel powerplants. We expect to see the S and SD versions of the petrol and diesel respectively. That means a pair of 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder units making 192 PS and 190 PS respectively, harnessed by a new eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. MINI India may also consider more affordable front-wheel-drive versions without the ‘S’ badging. We’ll have to wait until the launch in less than two weeks to figure that out.
The Clubman, dare we say, is far from its namesake. It’s a sizeable car at 4,253 mm long and 1,800 mm wide, being a premium compact SUV, and packs four doors, five seats, a split-gate rear and a 360-litre volume that can be expanded to 1,250 litres by folding down the second row of seats. It’s an interesting and even more practical addition to the adorable MINI family and we welcome it to India.
Story: Jim Gorde
